News & Views from the CMU Librarieshttps://blogs.cmich.edu/library
CMU Libraries BlogWed, 01 May 2019 12:29:22 +0000en-US
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1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.1Library Faculty Member Sandy Folsom to Retirehttps://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/05/01/library-faculty-member-sandy-folsom-to-retire/
https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/05/01/library-faculty-member-sandy-folsom-to-retire/#respondWed, 01 May 2019 12:00:50 +0000http://blogs.cmich.edu/library/?p=529Read moreLibrary Faculty Member Sandy Folsom to Retire]]>Sandy Folsom joined CMU Libraries in 1984 and has witnessed tremendous change during the past 35 years of service as a faculty librarian. She participated in the implementation of three automated systems and two institutional repository platforms. She is the queen of alt formats, the authority on authorities, and the aficionado of acronyms. Sandy devoted her career to increasing students’ information literacy skills, providing access to scholarly works authored by CMU faculty and students, enriching the library profession through her scholarly endeavors, and offering expert advice and guidance to all library faculty and staff. She has been a thoughtful teacher, a supportive liaison, a valued colleague, and a mentor to many. We will miss her sense of humor and wish Sandy much happiness in her retirement!
]]>https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/05/01/library-faculty-member-sandy-folsom-to-retire/feed/0Congratulations to Students Graduating, Studying Abroad, or Leaving for Internshipshttps://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/29/congratulations-to-students-graduating-studying-abroad-or-leaving-for-internships/
https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/29/congratulations-to-students-graduating-studying-abroad-or-leaving-for-internships/#respondMon, 29 Apr 2019 12:00:09 +0000http://blogs.cmich.edu/library/?p=520Read moreCongratulations to Students Graduating, Studying Abroad, or Leaving for Internships]]>CMU Libraries employs nearly 100 students during the academic year and appoints student volunteers to serve as library ambassadors. Depending upon the department in which they work, our student employees serve our patrons, operate the building, prepare materials for use, maintain our equipment, and so much more. Our library ambassadors promote the libraries throughout the university.

We’re sad to see our students leave, and we are so proud of their accomplishments and goals!

CMU Grads

Halima Abdi, a student employee in the Clark Historical Library, is graduating with a degree in Interior Design. Halima will work as a manager at the flooring retailer in her hometown where she’s worked since 2013.

Andrea Balser, a student employee in Access Services, is graduating in May with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Personal Financial Planning. After graduation, she will work as a financial planner at Vintage Financial Services in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Taylor Bernstein, a student employee in Documents on Demand, will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. She plans to work as a graduate assistant while completing her master’s degree in Public Health, after which she plans to enroll in the Physician’s Assistant program in 2021.

Patricia Barlow-Bray, a student employee in Access Services, will intern this summer at the Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center. Her major is social work and her minor is American Sign Language. She plans to graduate in December and hopes to find work at a non-profit organization through which she can continue to be an advocate for survivors of sexual aggression. Patricia also plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work.

Caitlinn Burnham, a student employee in Business Services, is graduating in August with a degree in Human Resource Management and a minor in Business Information Systems. After finishing her last class this May, she plans to take the summer off before beginning CMU’s online MSIS program in the fall. Her summer plans include moving home to Ludington, enjoying the beach and summer weather, traveling to Washington D.C. and Nashville, and searching for a fulltime job. Caitlinn also plans to adopt a dog.

Derrian Cooley, a student employee in Access Services since 2016, started working at the library as an undergrad and continued through his grad studies. Derrian will graduate in May with a Master of Science degree in Administration with a concentration in Health Services Administration. After graduation, he plans to move back home and spend a year working as a medical assistant or medical scribe before continuing his education in medical school preferably somewhere out west.

Brad Davis, a student employee in the Access Services, is graduating this August with a master’s degree in Cultural Resource Management. He has worked at the library both as an undergraduate (2014-2016) and graduate student (2017-2019). After graduating, he plans to pursue a career working in museums and public history. Brad will likely move out of state to find a job and start the next chapter of his life. He’s hoping to work in a science and technology museum either on the east or west coast of the U.S.

Zoe Deschaine has worked as a graduate assistant on the IT Technology Awareness and Training Team since its inception in March of 2018. Her duties included creating self-paced training materials for online use and planning and delivering face-to-face and webinar-based workshops to faculty, staff, and students. Zoe will graduate with a master’s degree in Music Education in May. She has been teaching music and technology at St. Joseph the Worker in Beal City, Michigan, since the Fall of 2018 and plans to continue doing so in the future.

Lauryn Dingle, a student employee in Documents on Demand, is graduating this May with a degree in Dietetics. She is contemplating many different careers and hopes to be accepted into FoodCorps this fall.

Alexis Downing, a student employee in Access Services, is graduating in May with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance. She will work at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service within the U.S. Department of Defense.

Jade Driscoll, Library Ambassador, will graduate this May with a Bachelor of Science in English/Creative Writing, but she’ll be returning to CMU in the fall to pursue a Master of Arts in English/Creative Writing! She received an assistantship through the English Department to teach sections of ENG 101 while working toward her degree.

Jared Grech, a student employee in Access Services since 2016, is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Mathematics. This summer, he will be a Project Management Intern at J. Ranck Electric, Inc. in Mount Pleasant.

Mackenzie Morison, a student employee in Access Services, will be an adventure specialist intern at the North Star Reach Camp working with campers who have serious illnesses. She is majoring in Therapeutic Recreation with a minor in Outdoor & Environmental Education and plans to graduate in December. During the fall semester Mackenzie hopes to receive another internship opportunity.

Tom Ostrom, a student employee in Access Services, plans to graduate in December with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. This summer, he plans to pursue an internship in Fermentation Science.

Lindsey Rogers, a student employee in the Library Research and Instruction Services department, is graduating in May with a Bachelor of Arts that includes a double major in Art History and History and a minor in Museum Studies. Lindsey has worked at the Research Help Desk in Park Library for three years, and for the past year, has also been volunteering in the Clarke Historical Library with CMU’s archivist, Marian Matyn. In the Clarke Historical Library, Lindsey has processed collections for the archive and curated a new exhibition of the Olga Denison 20th Century Native American Art Collection. Collections she has worked on include case files from Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver and letters from CMU student Daisy Bazzett in the 1930s. Lindsey is passionate about making history and art accessible and understandable. After graduation, she plans to work in a museum or library before going to graduate school to earn either an M.A. in Art History, a master’s degree in Library Science, or a dual M.A./M.L.S.

Leah Ryal, a student employee in the Business Services office, is a freshman who is majoring in Psychology and Art History. She has been instrumental in editing the database for CMU’s external Art On Campus website. This summer, Leah will study abroad at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. She will be taking a class in positive psychology which will examine factors that relate to happiness and fulfillment. Then, she plans to spend the rest of the summer with her family in Tucson, Arizona.

William Schaber, better known as Billy, has worked in the Clarke Historical Library for two years. He hopes to graduate in the fall with a B.A. in English Language & Literature with a Creative Writing concentration. He likes writing poetry and was published in the Central Review last spring. His goal is to return to the Detroit area and continue writing.

Grace Smolinski, a student employee in the Clarke Historical Library, is a junior majoring in Graphic Design and minoring in Art History. She is heading to Florence, Italy, this summer for an independent study abroad in drawing. When she returns, she will be continuing a Graphic Design Internship at the Farbman Group.

Samuel Tibebe, a student employee in the Clarke Historical Library this past year, is graduating in May with a Geology major and Mathematics minor. His program included fieldwork in California’s Death Valley and Arizona. While at Clarke, Samuel researched the Douglass Houghton collection of primary materials (including field survey notes and survey maps of Michigan, 1837-1840), and contributed findings to the Clarke blog. Samuel looks forward to a career in a STEM field.

Marcus Van Arkel, a student employee in Access Services since 2016, is majoring in Marketing and Logistics. He will be interning at Echo Global Logistics in Chicago, IL, this summer. After his internship ends, Marcus plans to seek fulltime job offers in the Transportation Logistics industry preferably in Michigan.

Grace Watylyk, a student employee in the Business Services office, is graduating this May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in Outdoor and Environmental Education. Grace has worked in the library maintaining the arts and historical exhibits since 2017. This summer she will be an intern stationed in Alaska with the U.S. Forest Service through the Student Conservation Association. Her position title will be Visitor Services Intern, and she will work out of the Begich Boggs visitor center, which is about a 1-hour drive from Anchorage. She will interact with visitors and lead interpretive programs including guided hikes and campfire programs.

]]>https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/29/congratulations-to-students-graduating-studying-abroad-or-leaving-for-internships/feed/0Stopping the Noise in your Head: How Walking a Labyrinth is Like Taking a Safe Time Outhttps://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/24/stopping-the-noise-in-your-head-how-walking-a-labyrinth-is-like-taking-a-safe-time-out/
https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/24/stopping-the-noise-in-your-head-how-walking-a-labyrinth-is-like-taking-a-safe-time-out/#respondWed, 24 Apr 2019 17:53:57 +0000http://blogs.cmich.edu/library/?p=502Read moreStopping the Noise in your Head: How Walking a Labyrinth is Like Taking a Safe Time Out]]>The last two weeks of the spring semester are especially busy for students. The whirlwind of exams, papers and projects, packing up for the summer, and for some students, graduating, may lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety.

The library offers a refuge from the fast pace of academic life and a quiet oasis in a noisy world. Last December, we introduced labyrinth walking as one of the De-stress Zone activities on the Park Library’s second floor. However, we are neophytes when it comes to labyrinth walking.

Fortunately, Michelle Bigard, Associate Director of CMU’s Counseling Center, is an expert. She has written numerous articles about labyrinth walking and leads workshops to introduce students, faculty, and staff to its practice. Michelle promotes labyrinth walking as a form of self-care that relaxes your body and quiets your mind. I recently interviewed Michelle to learn more.

KI: Describe your first experience with labyrinths.

MB: I was working at a psychiatric hospital at the time and participated in a weekend retreat led by our chaplain. During the retreat, we made a labyrinth from scratch and walked it in several different ways. Afterward, we processed our experiences using art. Walking the labyrinth felt like a very safe time out. We were encouraged to let the labyrinth walking experience be what it needed to be. Although multiple people were walking the labyrinth, I experienced a solitary feeling, being alone in public. I also felt the support of those around me.

KI: What does a labyrinth symbolize?

MB: A labyrinth represents the paths of life, a journey, or different places in your journey. Walking a labyrinth mirrors back to you where you are right now on your journey in life.

KI: What are the advantages of walking a labyrinth?

MB: It helps you get out of your head. It helps you notice your thoughts and emotions without judgment. Walking is a tactile experience. Your breathing slows down to match your pace. You must look down at the path, otherwise, you will veer off the path. Looking down brings your focus inward and to the present moment. Afterward, any tension you were feeling will have dissipated and you will feel more rested. When we feel rested, we are better able to be relational.

KI: How might walking a labyrinth help students practice good self-care?

MB: Labyrinth walking helps you pause and reflect. It helps you pay attention to what’s going on with a sense of curiosity and enables you to be responsive rather than reactive. It stops the noise in your head and allows you to take your time making choices.

KI: Describe the process of walking a labyrinth.

MB: Sometimes, the less a person knows, the better. Allow yourself to take a break. As you begin walking, settle into a comfortable pace, not too fast, not too slow. Notice what comes up. Be curious. Ask, “What am I learning about myself? What do I want to do with what I learned?” As you exit the labyrinth, ask, “What am I coming back to? How can I be of service?” Some people release expectations and feel a greater sense of purpose.

KI: Do you have to set an intention before you begin walking?

MB: No, just do it. See what shows up.

KI: What would you say to someone who is not sure they want to walk the labyrinth?

The Labyrinth Society is a non-profit organization based in St. Louis, Missouri, that supports those who create and use labyrinths through training and networking.

Veriditas is a non-profit organization based in Petaluma, California, that provides training and resources for labyrinth facilitators.

]]>https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/24/stopping-the-noise-in-your-head-how-walking-a-labyrinth-is-like-taking-a-safe-time-out/feed/0Archaic Technologies in the Libraryhttps://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/18/archaic-technologies-in-the-library/
https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/18/archaic-technologies-in-the-library/#respondThu, 18 Apr 2019 08:00:36 +0000http://blogs.cmich.edu/library/?p=503Read moreArchaic Technologies in the Library]]>This is not another story about how computers and digital technologies are changing libraries. Rather, here you will read about some of the analog materials and equipment in our collections. While many of our patrons may have never used them, they nonetheless contain valuable and useful information.

Next to the Checkout Desk on the second floor, you will find shelves of VHS tapes and DVDs in our Multicultural Media Collection. Nearby are study carrels with VCR/DVD combination players. The Libraries still own films on VHS because those titles are simply not available in other formats. Just as not every book has been made available electronically, not every film has been converted to digital format.

VCR

On the third floor of the University Library, you’ll find cabinets of microfiche, microfilm, and microcards, which contain thousands of issues of newspapers, journals, and magazines. Although the Library has electronic access to some of those titles held in microforms, that is not the case for the majority of those collections. Where old microform viewers used to sit, you’ll now find computers with oversized, vertically oriented monitors and scanners with glass plates and mini film spools that allow users to create PDFs of articles and images stored on fiche, film, and cards.

Microfilm reader

The University Library only recently withdrew the remaining few dozen record albums and cassette tapes in its collections. This was done partly due to changing curricula, but also because most patrons no longer have the means to play these formats for themselves and the Library doesn’t have space to house the necessary equipment for use on site.

However, it is a different story in the Clarke Historical Library. There you will find vinyl records and both regular sized and microcassettes, as well as the devices on which to play them. In addition to record and cassette players, the Clarke also owns a reel-to-reel player through which patrons can listen to speeches and music recordings in the Clarke’s collections.

Microcassette recorder/player

The Clarke also owns a Sony camera to play microcassette videos, which is the only option Marian Matyn, the archivist, has to view those items. A Sony digital editing unit is connected to a Mac and provides Marian with the only way to access material on unit-diverse videos from University Communications. Systems staff members assist Marian with converting the Mac files and uploading them to a server, so analog content can become digital for preservation and ease of access; however, this is a time consuming and tedious process because of breakdowns.

Videorecorder

Because the Clarke also has microform items in its collections and nothing can be removed from the special collections library, you will find microfiche and microfilm readers there, too. In addition, the Clarke also owns a light table with which patrons and staff alike can view various types of slides and glass-plate negatives in the collections.

Light table

Staff members in the Clarke sometimes visit the University Archives at Michigan State University to use its Steenbeck flatbed film editing table to listen to films as the Clarke’s projectors do not have sound and the Steenbeck does. The Clarke also has videotapes in both Beta and VHS formats, so it has a VCR and a Betamax in its collection.

Steenbeck 16mm flatbed film editor

Another issue in the Clarke is with “machine-readable records” in inaccessible formats, which include floppy disks in various sizes and compressed discs. Few people on campus have the hardware to access those items now. Even when staff members have the hardware to access certain materials, they often can’t because they lack the required propriety software and passwords to do so. Similarly, you may come across CD-ROMs in University Library’s collections. While those discs are supplemental materials that accompany some of the books on our shelves, many computers today are sold without CD-ROM drives rendering those items useless for patrons who lack external CD drives.

Floppy disks

Preserving information found in increasingly archaic formats is far more important for archives and special collections than for regular libraries. As devices for using those formats break or become obsolete, staff members can have some materials reformatted for future use. However, that usually comes at considerable cost—if it can even be done at all. Archives generally retain the original items, too, because data can be lost every time an item is reformatted—and that requires storage space and supplies for preservation. Having the original items also provides authenticity for the collection even if the equipment to play or view the items in question is no longer available at a particular institution.

Glass plate negative

Even if you have never seen glass plate photo negatives, microfiche of periodicals, or computer floppy disks, you hopefully now have some understanding of the importance those items can have in a library’s collection. The next time you visit the University Library or the Clarke Historical Library, take a look around for some of the equipment mentioned in this article. What you may see isn’t just there to take up space.

]]>https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/18/archaic-technologies-in-the-library/feed/0Libraries Work Toward Sustainable Partnershipshttps://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/15/libraries-work-toward-sustainable-partnerships/
https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/15/libraries-work-toward-sustainable-partnerships/#respondMon, 15 Apr 2019 12:00:13 +0000http://blogs.cmich.edu/library/?p=339Read moreLibraries Work Toward Sustainable Partnerships]]>When I was asked to create a post for the libraries’ new blog in the spring, the thought of Earth Day came to mind, and I felt that discussing the relationships the library is creating with sustainable entities would be most appropriate.

Earth Day, which falls on April 22nd, was first observed in 1970 and organized by Denis Hayes. Hayes, who was a Harvard Graduate student at the time, wanted to educate others about environmental conservation. He was hired by Senator Gaylord Nelson, who wanted to use the event to help “bring America back together”. This event was held during the midst of the Vietnam war. Nelson felt our young people needed something more productive to focus their efforts on, and this grassroots cause was just what they needed. It is estimated that 20 million people assembled across the United States at this inaugural event.

The first global Earth Day was organized by Hayes in 1990, with 200 million people in 140 countries in observance. I remember attending an event at a park by the river in Big Rapids on that day, when I was an undergrad.

If you have read recent posts on this blog, you would have likely read the post from Timothy Peters, Library Spaces are Changing – Part One. Tim discussed the changing landscape of library spaces and how the move from print materials to electronic reduces the footprint of physical materials by shifting them from brick and mortar buildings to the cloud. Reducing the physical footprint allows the libraries to expand study spaces for library users. This movement to the cloud has brought about interesting challenges for library staff.

How do we dispose of this material in a responsible way?

How can we provide our materials to others in an efficient manner?

The libraries have a responsibility to use available resources to assure that materials removed from the library collections are discarded appropriately and responsibly. Several years ago, we were put in touch with a sales representative from a company called Better World Books (BWB). BWB was started by two Notre Dame University graduates in 2003. They were looking for a niche market, and found that, in gathering and selling used books. They also donate books to under-served communities; as the banner at the top of their website indicates, “Every time you purchase a book on betterworldbooks.com, we donate a book to someone in need.” The partnership between CMU Libraries and BWB has allowed the libraries to make our used books available to other libraries or people. The funds from the sale of these books goes to the libraries they came from, or they are donated to non-profit organizations. It is a win-win!

More recently, the CMU Libraries has partnered with CMU Recycling. The CMU Recycling office works with the Isabella County Recycling Center and other companies across the state/nation to responsibly dispose of a variety of library materials that BWB does not accept.

]]>https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/15/libraries-work-toward-sustainable-partnerships/feed/0The Life of a Bookhttps://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/11/the-life-of-a-book/
https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/11/the-life-of-a-book/#respondThu, 11 Apr 2019 14:12:56 +0000http://blogs.cmich.edu/library/?p=418Read moreThe Life of a Book]]>We are happy to share a creative short story written by one of our very own Library Ambassadors!

Jade Driscoll is a senior from Randville, MI who will be graduating in May with her bachelor’s degree in English/Creative Writing. This is Jade’s first year as a Library Ambassador, and she plans to remain in the program when she returns to CMU in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in creative writing. Jade is very active on campus as she serves as Director of Programming for the Larzelere Hall Council as well as the Larzelere Hall Desk manager and President of To Write Love on Her Arms, a national non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Jade loves to write and share her writing with anyone she can, so we hope you enjoy this short story.

The Life of a Book

I had always been quiet. I never did anything to draw attention to myself, and I certainly never jumped out at anyone, screaming “Pick me!” like some of the others did. Instead, I hid in the shadows and the corners, knowing that the right person would come to find me if they really wanted.

I was grateful for my eyes because watching was exactly what I did best. I watched as some of the others were picked up and taken away. Eventually, most of them returned, but they were different. Some had an amazing time, they were sad to be back and immediately began throwing themselves in front of people to be chosen again. Others were not so lucky. They returned beaten, or torn, or stained, or missing some small piece of themselves. After a while, some of them would try to find someone else willing to take them, to give them a better experience in the world. If nothing else, they knew they were luckier than the ones who did not return at all.

I watched everyone return and leave again, and I listened to their stories, and I never wished I was in their place. I stayed in my place. I kept my head down. I avoided attention. Having my own stories of the world was not worth the potential harm when I could just watch everyone else.

Then one day, she found me. I do not remember her name, but I remember what she looked like. She had wispy grey hair falling out of a bun, and she was wearing pointed glasses and a navy sweater twice the size of her frail frame. Her veiny left hand was holding a handwritten list; she clearly knew exactly who she was looking for. She pushed past everyone who actually wanted to leave, and I began to panic with some of the other recluses.

Slowly, she came closer to me, and I held my breath. Before I knew what was happening, her hands wrapped around me tightly. Her skin was rough, and I could feel each individual bump of her spidery veins. I cried out, but she ignored me. A few of the others began to cheer for me; they were excited I was finally getting to experience the world on my own. I was terrified.
I closed my eyes as we moved. I did not want to know where we were going.

When she put me down and I opened my eyes, I was on a wooden table, and I did not recognize anyone around me. It was a relatively large table, with a sign that read “Celebrating Female Authors!” I took a deep breath, ruffled my pages. That was why I was there. That was why the woman hand-picked me.

For a while, I stuck to what I was good at; I watched the others throw themselves forward and walk out of the library with people, and I did my best to blend into the wooden-table-turned-display-case. It was not my shelf, though, and there were not many places to hide. I could not blend into the wood.

Nearly a week after the woman stole me from my home, another woman stole me again. Her name was Olive and her hands were much softer than the first woman’s. I could not feel her veins as she held me.

I spent almost another full week inside of a bag before Olive pulled me out again. I saw real sunlight and trees, and I felt the summer heat, and I heard birds sing. Suddenly, I understood why the others said the potential pain was worth it.

After Olive, it was John, and then Marsha, Bailey, Tyrone, Nina, Halle…

I showed them each the world inside of me, and, whether they knew it or not, they showed me a bit of the world, too. I learned that sand came in different colors, that the ground was made of individual blades of grass, that no two ladybugs sounded the same, that the rain withered my skin but cigarette ashes hurt it more, that sometimes the world wanted to fall apart, but the people never fully let it.

During the library’s survey last year, students told us they wanted more group study spaces, comfortable seating, and outlets for charging mobile devices. We listened and we hope this summer’s building projects will fulfill students’ needs!

Beginning in May 2019, the east section of shelving on the 3rd floor will be removed and a new group collaboration space will be created. The new group space will include eight study pods with marker boards, comfortable lounge seating, and ample outlets. The space should be completed by the time fall 2019 classes begin.

Figure 2. Overhead view of new 3rd floor group study space

There is no one-size-fits-all study space. Although we are not creating additional quiet, individual study spaces, students will be able to use the first floor quiet study area for a longer period of time. Between midnight and 2:00 a.m., four nights per week during the fall and spring semester, students will have after-hours access through a new door inside Java City. This new access point more than doubles the amount of quiet study space available after the main library closes.

Park Library’s movable shelving is a popular item to show off during admissions and orientation tours. After working hard for nearly 20 years, the electronic components are wearing out. This summer, we will upgrade the electronic components in the sections of shelving visible from the atrium.

Figure 3. Example of the new electronic controls to be installed on atrium-side shelving.

These projects continue work that began in 2015 with the development of the Park Library Master Plan. The Copeland Suite project completed in 2016 inspired this summer’s 3rd floor project, and the success of the 24/4 access to the library’s Extended Hours Study (EHS) room that began in 2017 prompted this summer’s initiative to install an after-hours door into the 1st floor study area.

In future years, we plan to continue updating the library’s study spaces to meet students’ needs. Which enhancements should we prioritize next?

Here at the CMU Libraries, we work with thousands of electronic resources that bring information right to the screen in front of you – from A&A Case Reports* to Zygon and everything in between. A few of the CMU Libraries’ faculty and staff have selected ten of them that we love – and that you might not know about.

You don’t need to be a scientist to help advance our scientific understanding of the world. Zooniverse.org hosts a range of citizen science projects that allow anyone to make contributions to scientific research without even leaving the house. You can choose from a variety of projects focused on different scientific disciplines: ecology, medicine, astronomy, and more. Try your hand at identifying animals in photos taken by camera traps or examine images of the solar atmosphere to help scientists better understand solar storms. The training for each project only takes a few minutes and is both fun and rewarding.

–Caitlin Benallack, Instruction Librarian

Description of a study about self-reported concussions in rugby players in Ireland

While a lot of medical research data is hidden behind a paywall, ClinicalTrials.gov has data from over 300,000 clinical trials from around the world. Provided by the US National Library of Medicine, the database lists not just completed trials, but also those that are still recruiting, and provides clinical data on hundreds of human conditions and diseases.

Even if you’re not looking for music to program for a concert, those interested in discovering music by composers from historically underrepresented groups will be happy to learn about the Composer Diversity Database from the Institute of Composer Diversity. The simplest search allows you to find music based on three categories, including women/non-binary and living/deceased. With the more advanced search you can further refine your search by particular genres, demographics, and location. A useful resource for anyone interested in discovering and supporting the music of underrepresented composers.

Chronicling America, via the Library of Congress, provides digital access to over 13 million pages of articles published in hundreds of American newspapers from the late 18th through the mid-20th centuries. What I like most about this resource is the ability to use the drop-down menus of Ethnicities and Languages that appear under the tab entitled “All Digitized Newspapers 1789-1963.” This offers access to newspapers that were published for specific indigenous and immigrant populations. Additionally, the ability to target newspaper articles by state and by date range allows users to focus on subjects or issues in very specific ways. For instance, a user wanting to find information on slaveholding in the South during the Civil War could limit a search to specific states within the Confederacy between the dates of 1861-1865 in order to better understand regional attitudes toward the institution of slavery at the height of that war. I highly recommend that you take some time to explore this fascinating and freely available historical resource—you will not be disappointed!

Do you want to make an impact on the policies of the US Government? You can through the rulemaking process. We learn in school that Congress passes bills and Presidents enact those

laws, but we don’t often learn about rulemaking – which is the process where government agencies propose how they will enforce and carry out laws, like the Endangered Species Act or net neutrality. The best part about rulemaking is that it is a public process and we, the citizenry, can comment on the rules to help shape the final outcome. Each rule is placed on the Federal Register and, during a specified comment period, it is open to the public for comment. Scientists, industry, stakeholders, and the public at large help shape the rule to be the best it can be. After revision, the final rule is entered into the Code of Federal Regulations.

If you want to get involved, you need to use the US Government’s Federal Register page. And if you want some historical context to a particular rule, Westlaw’s Federal Register contains all of the Federal rules going back to 1936.

If you love birdwatching, or have ever wondered who’s making all the racket every morning at dawn, check out Birds of North America Online from the famous Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You can explore species by region and distribution over the course of the year, find breeding and migration ranges, and see high-resolution photos of birds in their native habitats. What sets this source apart is the wealth of videos and audio files uploaded to the site. Play the songs of your favorite birds all year long!

Would you like to read more about your hometown area in Michigan? Clarke Historical Library has put together this portal of Michigan newspapers, some of which are in the Clarke and some that are found in Chronicling America. Find out what life was like 100 years ago, or search for stories about your family. You can also correct the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) text that is generated by software that “reads” the newspaper – become a top text corrector!

If you love pouring over historical documents, you might enjoy working on one of the Citizen Archivist projects for the National Archives. Citizen Archivists transcribe and tag documents and images, making the National Archives collections more accessible and searchable. It is quick and easy to set up an account and then select a “mission” that focuses on a collection that interests you. Choose anything from tagging photos of the Tennessee Valley Authority activities in the early 20th century to transcribing Project Chariot files outlining a plan to create a harbor at Cape Thompson, Alaska using nuclear blasts.

The New York Times database is well worth plumbing. Although its audience has always skewed toward the high end of the economic scale, the Times remains the nation’s “newspaper of record.” Its obituaries have always been distinctive and comprehensive. Its coverage remains hard to top in terms of thoroughness and resources. The Times’ formalized style of writing may be off-putting to some, but it’s part of the personality that makes the paper worth reading every day.

A premier database for the sciences, this resource is invaluable to those looking for scholarly articles to support their research. Available to CMU students, staff, and faculty, it not only has access to articles from core research journals in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, but also provides a number of tools to help you analyze the impact of that research in a given field. A key go-to resource for any discipline!

]]>https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/03/ten-of-our-favorite-online-resources-you-might-not-know-about/feed/0Professor Steven Weiland, Michigan State University, to Give Two Talks about Research Workflows in the Digital Age in the Park Library on April 8, 2019.https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/01/professor-steven-weiland-michigan-state-university-to-give-two-talks-about-research-workflows-in-the-digital-age-in-the-park-library-on-april-8-2019/
https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/01/professor-steven-weiland-michigan-state-university-to-give-two-talks-about-research-workflows-in-the-digital-age-in-the-park-library-on-april-8-2019/#respondMon, 01 Apr 2019 12:00:30 +0000http://blogs.cmich.edu/library/?p=352Read moreProfessor Steven Weiland, Michigan State University, to Give Two Talks about Research Workflows in the Digital Age in the Park Library on April 8, 2019.]]>The workflows used by researchers has become an important area of study as the World Wide Web, and the proliferation of electronic tools available to collect, store, and share information has radically altered how individuals engage in research. Yet, as Dr. Steven Weiland, a professor in the graduate program in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education at Michigan State University argues, evaluating workflows of researchers shows us that, while there is much consistency in how scholars now conduct research, there is also much variation and individual style. Weiland himself, who has a PhD in English, has written on subjects as different as literature, jazz, Jewish Studies, psychology, and education, and is well-equipped to understand the variety of approaches used in different scholarly endeavors.

Please join us on Monday, April 8th, in the Park Library’s Garden View Room, as Professor Weiland brings to light the nature of the scholarly workflow in the digital age.

11:00 AM Session One:Understanding the Research Workflow

The term “workflow” refers to the logical or deliberate organization of work, and work is often associated with manufacturing systems. But it would be a mistake to see a biology laboratory or an historian’s study as the location of only carefully calibrated decisions and actions. There is always room for imagination, chance, and improvisation. What researchers do in identifying and using the resources they need and communicating with colleagues and others in publications and other formats is essential to scholarship and science. This presentation will feature recent accounts of the research workflow. No less than other professionals, scholars are adapting to evolving digital conditions of work. Still, as empirical studies show, the workflow remains a highly individualized element of academic life.

2:00 PM Session Two: Lessons from ITHAKA on Research Practices

ITHAKA, the influential academic service organization, launched a series of studies in 2012 reflecting a scholar-centered approach to understanding research in higher education. In collaboration with university libraries, ITHAKA has studied researchers in seven disciplines, including history, chemistry, and Asian Studies, and more are planned. This presentation shows how, viewed together, the “Changing Research Practices” studies represent a unique collective portrait of scholars at work, loyal to research conventions but encountering new digital tools for research requiring new forms of institutional support. The ITHAKA studies help us understand how disciplinary habits shape professional expectations and research practices, and what might be done to serve scholars having different positions about technological innovation from indifference to enthusiasm.

]]>https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/04/01/professor-steven-weiland-michigan-state-university-to-give-two-talks-about-research-workflows-in-the-digital-age-in-the-park-library-on-april-8-2019/feed/0Celebrating CMU’s Authors and Editorshttps://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/03/18/celebrating-cmus-authors-and-editors/
https://blogs.cmich.edu/library/2019/03/18/celebrating-cmus-authors-and-editors/#respondMon, 18 Mar 2019 12:00:25 +0000http://blogs.cmich.edu/library/?p=341Read moreCelebrating CMU’s Authors and Editors]]>A writer’s published work embodies their passions, their interests, and their expertise. When the library receives books created by CMU faculty and staff, I enjoy paging through each one to learn something about each person and about their research interests.

There’s sure to be a book that piques your interest! Since these authors and editors are here at CMU, you can talk to them in person, ask for their autograph, or enroll in one of their courses. Library collections are meant to serve the needs of readers.1 Collecting the published works of our faculty and staff is a great way to meet the needs of our learning community.

Please join us on April 2, 2019 at the 15th Annual Book Recognition Event to celebrate these writers’ creative achievements. Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and University Libraries, the annual Book Recognition Event celebrates CMU authors, editors, illustrators, and translators. You can view past recipients online and can browse the book collection located on the north end of the Park Library’s second floor.